GGM Union Urges Management to Comply with Win-Win Agreement and Guarantee Three Basic Labor Rights

Union Announces 'Protest March to Seoul'
to Urge Change in Management's Attitude

On the 8th, the GGM branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held a press conference at Gwangju City Hall urging the guarantee of the three labor rights. Provided by the Korean Metal Workers' Union Gwangju Jeonnam Branch

The labor union of Gwangju Global Motors (GGM) has called on management to comply with the labor-management win-win development agreement and to guarantee the three basic labor rights.

On May 8, the Gwangju Jeonnam Branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall, stating, "GGM management must guarantee workers' constitutional basic rights." They further asserted, "The clause in the labor-management win-win development agreement that postpones strikes until cumulative production reaches 350,000 units is unconstitutional and infringes on labor rights."

They emphasized, "The union has participated in negotiations in good faith to prevent any disruption in production, but all negotiations have broken down." They added, "In contrast, management has avoided good-faith negotiations by using the agreement and the positions of the GGM shareholders as excuses."

They also stated, "Management did not present any revised proposals during the working-level negotiations in April or at the 25th main negotiation session held on May 7. This shows a lack of willingness to negotiate sincerely." "To urge a change in management's attitude, we plan to begin protests next week at the Democratic Party of Korea's central headquarters and Hyundai Motor Company's headquarters in Seoul. If management does not engage in good-faith negotiations, we will proceed with a strike involving all union members," they added.

Meanwhile, prior to the press conference, about 20 union executives began a partial strike at 12:20 p.m. GGM, which adopted the 'Gwangju-type job' model as the first labor-management win-win model in Korea, is currently experiencing conflict due to the breakdown of wage and collective bargaining negotiations.